THEY say you never forget your first time, so Everton FC’s latest Aussie victory will linger in the memories of Melbourne Heart fans for nostalgic reasons alone.

It was no classic but this comfortable, if hardly dynamic Toffees performance will be recorded for posterity as the newly-formed Heart’s first official game before their inaugural A-league season.

For David Moyes it will be a case of taking comfort from the vast potential of youth at his disposal, and from another opportunity to improve his squad’s overall match fitness.

Everton’s boss won’t read much more into the game on a blustery and rain-soaked evening, because it had all the hallmarks of classic pre-season fare.

The tempo yo-yoed as fitness levels understandably dipped at various stages, partly due to the disruption which travelling has caused to the Blues’ training schedule.

Moyes used the opportunity of this second warm-up to hand debuts to Portuguese striker Joao Silva and ex-Leeds United forward Jermaine Beckford, while using all but one of his nine-strong substitute bench.

While the Blues laboured at times on a scrappy pitch, the growing strength in depth of this squad was enough to send the Australian Evertonians home happy.

Jack Rodwell again suggested this will be the season when he stamps his mark emphatically on the Premier League, with a composed and elegant first-half display.

Always assured and comfortable in possession, the 19-year-old sealed another strong performance with a close-range goal after fine work by fellow young prospect Seamus Coleman.

The scoreline could have been different. The Blues should really have scored three, after Louis Saha wasted a second-minute penalty for a foul on Coleman.

But the classy Frenchman atoned for the spot-kick howler with a second-half strike from outside the box which nestled comfortably in the top left-hand corner of the net.

As A-League champions Sydney had done at the weekend, Heart showed plenty of spirit and tenacity, carving out various decent chances which were not converted thanks to poor finishing and solid goal-keeping from Iain Turner.

At times the Everton manager and his coaching staff, seated alongside the pitch on white plastic chairs resembling garden furniture, could have been forgiven for nodding off.

But denied the cosy, if twee, blankets favoured by benches during the World Cup, there was never much chance of that happening on a decidedly brisk evening.

Once again the tour promoters and Everton officials lent a slice of Goodison Park to this new, roofed stadium near Melbourne’s docks.

Like in Sydney, the players ran out to Z-Cars, and Grand Old Team signalled time for everyone to pack away their Everton mints and head for the exits.

After a strong all-Everton start, Heart began to assert themselves and signal their intent – revealed by Dutch manager John Van’t Schip – to play like Barcelona.

Indeed, former Sheffield Wednesday striker Gerald Sibon should have given Heart the lead when he was played one-on-one with Turner, only to round the Everton keeper and slide his shot wide.

Bilyaletdinov responded by turning his full-back and whipping a low cross into the box with which Saha almost connected.

But Heart proved they can play, even if not quite at the level of Andres Iniesta et al, engineering a few half chances in response – the pick of the bunch when the comically named Rutger Worm back-flicked a sumptuous ball into the path of Sibon.

Melbourne began to look the most likely to open the scoring, with Socceroo Josip Skoko striking a well-executed 20-yard volley at goal which Turner just tipped over.

That scare finally shook Everton from their slumber. Victor Anichebe received the ball on the right flank, burst forward and fed the overlapping Seamus Coleman who did superbly to fire an inch-perfect cross into the box for Rodwell to finish from close range.

With half-time approaching, Rodwell, who again stood out courtesy of that remarkable poise and elegance, fired a free kick over the bar from 25 yards.

The second period saw skipper Phil Neville return to action for Tony Hibbert, deputising at left-back in Leighton Baines’ absence, and Tim Cahill receiving the usual plaudits after replacing Magaye Gueye.

The Blues quickly attempted to recreate the training-ground style move which led to their opener, with Anichebe again feeding the excellent Coleman, but this time the Irishman’s cross was too close to Heart keeper Clint Bolton.

Moments later Anichebe was involved again. The powerful forward latched onto a Coleman pass and tested Bolton for a second time in quick succession with a rasping effort.

But with the tempo still decidedly relaxed, Saha rode a tackle on the edge of the area, steadied himself and curled an effort into the top right-hand corner.

The Frenchman might as well have shrugged as he jogged back into position with barely a smile.

With the result seemingly beyond doubt, Heart lived up to their name by plugging away relentlessly.

But their inaugural game ended in defeat, thanks to an Everton squad still going through the pre-season gears.

Everything suggests that when the Blues are at full throttle, those predictions of Premier League success are entirely plausible.